Nor is intimation made that those who would not scruple either to make opportunity, or to avail of such as might pre sent; Iago. A slippery and subtle knave; a finder out of occasions; that has an eye can stamp and counterfeit advantages, though true advantage never present itself: a devilish knave!" * * OTHELLO. would do so at all times, or in all cases: it would be out of the way to believe that they would or could, and preposterous to assert it; for even the most sensual of them are To run a-muck, and tilt at all they meet." Sufficient it is, that both experience, and the merest common sense, ought to convince any one, that amongst thousands, there must be many who would avail of every opportunity to gratify their sensuality, their fancy, or their passion, so that they did not glaringly outrage their worldly discretion; and such is the liability which attends the men-midwives' intercourse, a liability which must come home to the heart, "If damned custom have not braz'd it so, That it be proof and bulwark against sense." HAMLET. As, in the introductory chapter, the influence of woman over man was particularly instanced in the character of Coriolanus, that of Angelo, drawn also by Shakespeare, is now adduced, as tending still further forcibly to illustrate the position that no fixed resolve, no firmness of nature, no integrity of character can be fully relied upon against such influence. But before entering upon such example, it may be in fitting place first to illustrate in the same object by the suggestion of Belial, " Paradise Regained," when temptation the most accursed was proposed! "Set women in his eye, and in his walk, Such object hath the power to soft'n and tame In "Measure for Measure," Angelo, the Duke's deputy, is described as "A man of stricture and firm abstinence." Again "A man whose blood is very snow-broth; One who never feels the wanton stings Again, the Duke speaking of him, says, "Whom I believe to be most strait in virtue." And Angelo of himself, exclaims "Never could the strumpet, with all her double vigour, art and nature, once stir my temper." Yet this man stumbled, staggered, and M t fell, even from his apparent uprightness, and notwithstanding his supposed coldness of constitution, as will be seen. "Angelo. From thee; even from thy virtue! * Can it be, That modesty may more betray our sense * * * "What? do I love her That I desire to hear her speak again, Thus, once caught in the trammels of temptation, he cannot recede, so little redemption is there in mere human virtues! So rankly does the mere animal nature begin to work within him, that in impassioned fervour he exclaims Be that you are, That is, a woman; if you be more, you're none;" as the inward fire gathers strength, the character in its falling off, is perfected; "And when he falls, he falls like Lucifer!" the "snow-broth" blood becomes as a torrent of consuming lava, and Angelo, losing all "nicety and prolixious" toyings in the vehemence of ungovernable desire, stipulates in undisguised and base proposal the fiend-like condition of his mercy! thus, And now I give my sensual race the rein: By yielding up thy body to my will." Seeing then what human nature may at times be in its animal propensities, it comes in place to dilate somewhat at large upon its higher essence Reason, "Tho' under Nature's laws, yet man is free In Reason's empire,-highest earthly rule, Wisely decreed to curb the human will;" Unpublished Poem. for assuredly the basis of reliance as to the toleration of this practice of manmidwifery must be, not that the animal |